British Open Golf Betting

If anywhere can be classified as the home of golf, it is The Old Course at St. Andrews and this is where we find ourselves this weekend for the 150th Open Championship. Who will emerge victorious and lift the Claret Jug? BetRepublic previews the outright market here.

Outright Odds:

Tiger Woods – 6/1

Rory McIlroy – 16/1

Phil Mickelson – 16/1

Lee Westwood – 20/1

Ernie Els – 20/1

Justin Rose – 22/1

Padraig Harrington – 25/1

Ian Poulter – 33/1

Graeme McDowell – 33/1

Martin Kaymer – 40/1

Steve Stricker – 40/1

Luke Donald – 40/1

Paul Casey – 45/1

Retief Goosen – 50/1

Ross Fisher – 50/1

Jim Furyk – 50/1

For a listing of outright odds for every player, you can visit Betrepublic Each way terms are ¼ for a top five finish.

British Open Golf Betting Odds : This event is possibly the most wide open and unpredictable golf tournament in many years, with the young chargers in Rose, Kaymer and McIlroy all in great form but will they be good enough to beat the old guard of Woods, Els, Mickelson and all?

Woods has had many, many problems on both personal and professional levels and will be looking to breathe life back into his golf career at his favourite course. Woods claimed two runaway victories on the last two occasions on the Old Course at St. Andrews in 2000 and 2005, but that was another lifetime ago for the world number one. Despite all the problems that he has experienced this year he has still claimed two fourth place finishes at The Masters and the US Open.

But he has changed his putter for this tournament, will that disrupt his play? His putting has not been his strong point this year, but maybe this change will revitalise him and inject something back into his game. Should this happen then 6/1 will seem a little on the large side. I feel that Woods will challenge for the win as this is favourite course and, while he may not win, backing him each way at 6/4 for a top five placing is excellent value.

Who else will be in the hunt for the title? On the home front both Rory McIlroy and Justine Rose are having great seasons so far. McIlroy was incredibly close to winning the Race to Dubai, only losing out to Lee Westwood on the final day of the competition, and he has won the Quail Hollow Championship this year plus he has had a succession of top ten placings this year. Rose thrust himself into the world spotlight at the Open Championship back in 1998 when, as a seventeen year old amateur, he placed fourth.

He turned pro shortly afterwards, but only recently has begun to show his potential. He has won two PGA victories since the start of June – the Memorial Tournament and the AT&T National – and is the form player going into this weekend. Lets also not forget Lee Westwood as the Englishman had a great 2009, topping the Race to Dubai leaderboard and he took second place at this year’s Masters. He also took victory at the St. Jude Classic a month ago, so he will be just as full of confidence going into this tournament as Woods, Rose and McIlroy.

After the crowd favourites are there any other players who may challenge for the Claret Jug this weekend? Of course Phil Mickelson can never be ruled out and he has an exceptional year at the Majors in 2010 as he won the Masters and finished tied for fourth at the US Open. Can he keep that run going? With the opportunity to claim the world number one spot from Woods with a win, anything is possible!

With the weather predicted to be poor this weekend, with today’s Champions’s Challenge tournament called off due to the weather, things could play into the hands of Padraig Harrington.

The Irishman has already won the Open on two occasions in 2007 and 2008, but did not perform overly well in the American majors this year. He will be more comfortable in Scotland and may pull off his fourth major victory come Sunday afternoon. Also in contention will be South African Ernie Els. He has two victories to his name in 2010 at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and the WGC-CA Championship and he currently tops FedEx standings.

He has finished in the top ten at the Open Championship on eight of the last ten times he has entered the tournament and he has claimed two second places and two thirds in those eight, with one of those second places coming at St. Andrews in 2000.

We’re all set up for an excellent weekend’s golf, but where should your money go? As I mentioned earlier i’m going each way on Woods at 6/4. The price is low, but it is still better than evens and despite Woods’ poor year I cannot see him finishing outside the top five.

Where else should we be putting our money? I feel that Justin Rose is in superb form at the moment, with two wins in his last three starts and despite being a little short at 22/1 I’m going to back him each way also at odds of 11/2 each way. My final bet is on Padraig Harrington.

The Irishman is due a win, or at least a good finish, and he knows how to win the Open Championship. Plus, as mentioned above, the weather may very well suit his game and at 25/4 each way, I feel he is an excellent value bet.

For further analysis, previews and bets visit the BetRepublic British Open Stadium where our best members are currently discussing everything about this weekend’s tournament. Come join in the fun with BetRepublic

BetRepublic.com Recommends:

Back Tiger Woods to win each way @ 6/4

Back Justin Rose to win each way @ 11/2

Back Padraig Harrington to win each way @ 25/4